Can I Use A Tampon If I'm A Virgin? (for Teens) - Nemours KidsHealth

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Can I Use a Tampon If I'm a Virgin? Medically reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MDThis link opens in a new tab Learn About Adolescent Medicine & Pediatric Gynecology at Nemours Children's HealthThis link opens in a new tab

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I'm a virgin and I want to use a tampon but I heard they're just for girls/women who've had sex. Is that true?

Any girl who has her period can use a tampon. Tampons work just as well for girls who are virgins as they do for those who have had sex. And even though using a tampon can occasionally cause a girl's to stretch or tear, it does not cause a girl to lose her virginity. (Only having sex can do that.)

Using a tampon or a pad is completely up to you. Lots of girls who are active or who enjoy going to the pool or beach prefer to use tampons.

It may take some practice putting in a tampon for the first time. You might start with a slender-size, applicator-style tampon (especially one with a rounded top), which can make things easier at first. Follow the step-by-step instructions in the box. It also helps to try a tampon for the first time on a day when your period flow is heavy. That way the tampon should slip in easier. Talk to your health care provider if you are having trouble inserting a tampon.

Medically reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MDThis link opens in a new tab Date reviewed: August 2018

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